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The severed wrist of Ainel’s sword trembled with a sinister aura. A shimmering malevolence cloaked her clear eyes, and despite the fact that her wrist was severed, her gaze was locked onto the demon facing her, specifically targeting its vulnerable, exposed throat.

With a powerful downward strike, Ainel’s sword swung straight down, smashing through the demon’s wrist, leaving it hanging low.

Immediately, she took a defensive stance, preparing for any potential counterattack from the demon.

Yet, she moved her feet. In an instant, the distance closed, and Ainel’s mana collided with the demon’s magic, igniting a territorial battle. The collision resonated, as both gathered energy to dominate the space and claim absolute superiority in the fight.

“How dare a loathsome demon act so brazenly!”

That overwhelming energy was because Ainel had surpassed the standard of an intermediate demon. With the area dominated by magic, Ainel pushed her right foot forward.

Sweeping the ground, her left foot followed suit. With a precise motion, she readied her sword.

Ainel’s blade arched towards the demon’s head. If the creature failed to respond, its head would soon meet the castle wall.

“…Impudent knight.”

However, regrettably, the demon, despite its expression of tediousness, recognized its impending doom.

In an instant, it jerked back, narrowly avoiding Ainel’s sword. A thin line appeared across its Adam’s apple as black blood trickled down its neck.

“Tsk.”

Ainel clicked her tongue. The twist of her lips revealed her disappointment at not beheading the demon in one strike.

Surely, if she had pierced just a bit deeper, it would have yielded significant results. A faint understanding of her feelings began to take shape.

Nevertheless, that was that.

Having engaged with the demon, Ainel was focused on her fight, and I, as Shione’s retainer, had my own duties. With no time to spare, I needed to fulfill the tasks set before me.

I momentarily glimpsed Shione’s fragmented force against the backdrop of her mother’s imposing presence. I took her hand and guided her.

“Ainel is buying us time; we need to retreat swiftly.”

“But… should we not help Mother?”

“Even if we join the fight now, we wouldn’t be of much help. Indeed, we could even hinder her. Do you truly believe you wouldn’t be caught up with the demon?”

Shione quietly nodded at my words. Fortunately, unlike during the festival, she didn’t hesitate to respond this time.

“…It would be better to fall back and gather the Paladins and Knights.”

Oddly enough, I felt a flicker of alignment with Shione, as her response was exactly what I had hoped for.

Just as we were about to retreat, a voice pierced through.

“Those hair and that ominous aura—I remember now. Kaina… you are the descendant of that madwoman.”

The demon’s magic thickened around us.

That cursed creature was brimming with arrogance. Mentioning Kaina Shianella’s name, the first head of the Count’s house, suggested some twisted connection to her.

Seeing it act like a fool with no backing made it clear that its past with the founder was far from beautiful.

There was no way it could have that rotten expression otherwise.

‘This is becoming tedious.’

I swiftly circulated my mana. Such dense magic could eat into a person’s flesh; it was wise to avoid the troubles of becoming intoxicated by it.

Shione, wielding the power of Demonic Purification, didn’t need to worry about such magical erosion. The hunter who possessed that power could stroll through the cursed demonic realm unscathed.

Even if her abilities had slightly wavered, an intermediate demon’s magic would hardly pose a threat to her.

“There are priests over there. Ray, quickly towards them—”

As expected, Shione navigated the castle walls unaffected by the magic around her.

Yet, what stood in her way were the monsters advancing onto the battlements.

“Grrrr…”

“Eeeek—”

Monsters surrounded Shione and me.

Driven by the rich aura of an intermediate demon, they crawled up the castle walls, drooling heavily. The real issue was that they had laid eyes on us. In the end, these damned creatures began to salivate at the sight of Shione and me.

“Looks like the way back is blocked. This is troublesome…”

Shione pulled an arrow from her quiver.

At the same time, she glared towards the priests. With the monsters converging on us, they had gained some breathing room.

In fact, a few Battle Priests and Paladins had noticed the seriousness of our situation and were approaching. We only needed to withstand their impending assault.

However, as I wasn’t the type to simply endure, I declared.

“Ray?”

“You see it. I’ll clear the way.”

I pulled an arrow out and stepped forward.

I had already severed an altar demon’s life thread. It would be nothing short of embarrassing to struggle against such petty minions.

Immediately, my magic engulfed them.

*

“Kaina… how do you know the name of the first head of the house?”

“At least any demon involved in this dimension must know it. Countless demons have fallen to that wretched woman. However—”

The demon’s eyes narrowed into slits. Its grotesque face twisted in a sardonic grin that incited deeper disgust.

“That woman may have been impressive, but her offspring is subpar.”

Its baleful magic burst forth.

The malevolent creatures were drawn towards the purity of the magic, converging on Ainel and the demon.

Intoxicated by the murky energy, they became nothing more than monsters, fixated solely on devouring flesh and blood.

The demon wasn’t at all interested in a duel with Ainel.

Ainel quickly widened her field of view and spotted Shione.

She hadn’t strayed far, yet she was engulfed by that wave of monsters.

‘At least that’s a relief.’

Shione was fortunately accompanied by Ray.

Having previously vaporized a demon, he would surely protect her while looking after himself.

As proof of that—

Whoosh!!!

A whirlwind surged across the previously calm battlements.

This phenomenon occurred when Ray wielded magic. I had witnessed the powerful spell forged by those swirling gales with my own eyes; this horde of monsters would present a trial that Shione and Ray could overcome.

Thus, Ainel diverted her attention from them.

Her blue eyes were solely focused on one thing: the hideous human shape adorned with black horns.

‘Swiftly, I’ll sever its neck.’

It was no good enabling the demon to feast on the magic as it devoured the castle walls. Furthermore, she aimed to pay her respects to the dead with the demon’s head.

“Whoosh—”

She released her breath and relaxed her muscles for an instant.

Her breath hovered in the cold air like the faint spirits of the fallen soldiers.

At that moment—

“Grrr!”

The four-legged monster lunged with its sharp claws.

“Gah!”

Ainel held her breath.

With a swift twist of her muscle, she swung her sword.

Her blade cleanly sliced through, bifurcating the creature.

She felt weighed down and perpetually constricted, ever since preparations for the defensive battle had begun.

The head of the Shianella Count’s house. A descendant of the mightiest knight who had bravely vanquished demons. A rightful heir who inherited the spirit of her ancestors. Every term she felt defined her pressed against her consciousness.

Yet for her, retreat was not an option. Embodying the unyielding spirit of her ancestors, she had to ensure that her choices reflected the essence of Shianella.

“I am the head of the Counts.”

Indeed, she was the head of the Counts. As one of the foremost families in the kingdom blessed by divinity.

She had to uphold the pact made between the first queen and the Counts. The monsters and demons wreaking havoc in the kingdom must be stopped by a knight serving their lord.

“And soon, my name will embody Shianella itself.”

As a successor bearing her late head’s dying wishes, she had the duty to thwart the demons’ tyranny.

“Even if my prowess doesn’t match my predecessors, I have inherited their spirit whole.”

Ainel slammed her foot into the ground.

A rising aura echoed through the space.

“I will kill you, to rectify our spirit, and pay tribute to the fallen.”

The clash between Ainel and the demon extended into dozens of exchanges.

Ainel wielded a sword even more deadly than Siabel’s. It was the hallmark of Shianella’s swordsmanship.

Crafted to hunt demons, the sword bore the chill of its heinous purpose, coaxing monsters into being.

The fierce battle raged on.

Ainel maneuvered her sword skillfully. She snuffed out the lives of the approaching monsters while containing the demons that dared exploit any opening by counter-attacking. At times, she intentionally yielded an opening, ready to retaliate.

Ainel’s swordplay began to gradually evolve through her battles with the demons.

Yet the problem lay in—

“……!”

The overwhelming numbers against her.

At last, she permitted her first strike. A monster sank its jagged fangs into her thigh. Fire blazed in her leg.

Grrr!

Ainel hastily drove her sword into the creature’s throat. But even that wasn’t enough to make it loosen its grip. It was only after twisting her blade and severing its windpipe that she regained freedom in her leg.

“You boast confidently yet showcase such weakness.”

“…Shut your mouth.”

Ainel growled. The demon merely grinned, reveling in her anger.

Allowing one attack meant that there would be another. Ainel began to feel her body gradually give out.

Yet she did not cease her strikes. This time felt different.

Now she wielded her sword not out of obligation as the head of the Counts, but freely as a knight.

Having cut down countless strands of magic, her swordsmanship was finally feeling refined and sharpened.

“…Your ancestors bore the burden of becoming demons to endure. My sword is proof of that.”

She panted. The bite on her right leg was already stained with blood. Multiple fierce clashes with other monsters had compounded numerous injuries.

“But I will be different.”

The monologue continued.

To straighten her resolve.

“I shall slice through the moon and night that birthed you, instead of becoming a demon.”

Slash!

The massive creature lunged at Ainel but fell, headless.

“I shalln’t become a demon; instead, I will sever the mockery of the moon and night that spawn you, ensuring your descent into oblivion.”

Walls crumbled apart.

Taking a step forward.

Ainel extended her stride. She twisted her waist to glide her sword smoothly.

In one stroke, her aura shone brighter than anyone upon the battlements. The grand strike rising from this motion imprinted the existence of one into the chaotic battlefield.

The very space twisted. As the chaos disrupted the surrounding monsters, the lurking demon revealed itself.

Ainel advanced another step.

Through her dwindling stamina, her grace remained intact.

One strike.

The elegantly wielded sword shone with the light of the moon. Beneath the worldly night, Ainel’s understanding met the demon’s neck. Thus, confirmation dawned; her blade had indeed lopped off the moonlight, severing the night.

Amidst the cold battlefront, a new star began to rise in the kingdom’s night sky.

 

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